20thC Fox has opened a new division that will take on Dimension Films in its stake of horrors.

 

from Fangoria:

 

October 19: Halloween horror preview from Fox Atomic!

 

Mark your calendars (as if you need any other reason to remember what falls on October 31): Fox Atomic is about to make a bloody splash with a Halloween-day preview of its 2007 sequels 28 WEEKS LATER and THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2, as well as TURISTAS (bowing December 1). Special clips and interviews from all three pics will only be found on FoxAtomic.com on the 31st. Visitors will also get a sneak peek at the graphic novels 28 DAYS LATER: THE AFTERMATH and HILLS HAVE EYES: THE BEGINNING (see more details on those here).

 

The newly formed Fox genre division additionally promises prize giveaways, costume contests and on-line trivia fun. So it’s like a fun little Halloween bash at your local YMCA, except you’re gonna have to bring the apple cider and bob for your own damn apples at this exclusive Internet-only bash. Look for Fango’s coverage of TURISTAS in issue #258 (on stands now)! —

 

as well as being te studio for new horror film such as 28 weeks later and the hills have eyes 2, the firm will be responsible for borat and other comedys like the new revenge of the nerds.

and talking of dimension

 

October 20: SKELETON KEY director enters THE BOATHOUSE

 

Variety reports that Dimension Films has bought a pitch for a sexy supernatural chiller called THE BOATHOUSE, and has signed THE SKELETON KEY's Iain Softley (pictured) to direct. David Loucka, one of the uncredited contributors to the SNAKES ON A PLANE script, came up with the story, about a man who discovers that the past lovers of his new girlfriend have died under bizarre circumstances and comes to believe that she is cursed. Softley will also produce the movie with Sarah Curtis and his KEY collaborators Ehren Kruger and Daniel Bobker; Kruger describes THE BOATHOUSE to the trade as a "standout horror story, a scary film that explores sexual seduction in a way that the genre rarely braves to do." No start date has been announced yet. —Michael Gingold

 

other news from fangoria

 

October 20: Scott Kosar takes over new BELL WITCH script

 

Variety reports that Paramount has hired Scott Kosar (pictured), whose credits include the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and AMITYVILLE HORROR remakes as well as THE MACHINIST, to be the new writer on its BELL WITCH movie project. The film is being produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Simpson's Type A Films, and Witherspoon will star as a young woman obsessed with paranormal phenomena that she believes the titular phantom is targeting her baby. (The real-life Bell Witch attacks on a 19th-century Tennessee family were the subject of this year's AN AMERICAN HAUNTING and a pair of recent independently made features.) Kosar will rewrite a script by Don Winston originally titled OUR FAMILY TROUBLES; a director has yet to be signed for the film. —Michael Gingold

 

October 19: Supernatural ink in THE TATTOOIST

 

Like some sort of welcome viral pandemic, the production of horror films in the Asia-Pacific region continues to escalate. THE TATTOOIST, a unique co-production between New Zealand and Singapore (with funding from the countries’ respective government film commissions and MediaCorp Raintree Pictures), is the latest dark contender seeking to make an indelible mark on audiences. Starring Jason Behr (of THE GRUDGE, pictured)—who, incidentally, becomes the second Minnesotan after 30 DAYS OF NIGHT’s Josh Hartnett to front a horror film shooting in New Zealand this year—THE TATTOOIST is a supernatural thriller that investigates the ancient and mystical Samoan tradition of tautau. Behr plays American traveler and tattooist Jake Sawyer, whose interest in ethnic body art leads him to an encounter with a malevolent spirit. Joining Behr in the cast are HERCULES and XENA’s Michael Hurst, Mia Blake and fellow Kiwis David Fane and Robbie Magasiva. Singaporean TV fave Caroline Cheong also has a central role.

 

TATTOOIST producer Robin Scholes previously dealt with violence of a more human spirit in the downbeat and devastating drama ONCE WERE WARRIORS (and, reports Variety, recently signed to co-produce a Kiwi-Korean horror film called BELOVED). Director Peter Burger, who comes from a background in TV and shorts, makes his feature debut on THE TATTOOIST; composer James Hall will provide the score, but if production designer Gary Mackay, here in league with cinematographer Leon (WHALE RIDER) Narbey, can get the Auckland and Singapore locations to look as creepy and foreboding as his work on the underrated NZ horror flick THE LOCALS, then half the job is done.

 

Based on an idea by Vela Manusuate, THE TATTOOIST was scripted by Jonathan King and Matthew Grainger. Back in April, while feverishly working on the set of his own feature debut BLACK SHEEP (see item here), King seemed proud of his work on THE TATTOOIST, promising something altogether darker and more serious than his tale of ovine mania (on which Grainger served as a script consultant). THE TATTOOIST commenced principal photography on September 16, and already has guaranteed distribution in Australia and New Zealand through Buena Vista International. At present there’s no U.S. deal to release THE TATTOOIST, but rest assured Fango will be needling you with further updates in the near future. —Michael Helms